Historical sketches. 20i 



their fortunes, determined to leave it, and make a set- 

 tlement somewhere upon the Hudson Kiver. The en- 

 terprise doubtless originated in Providence, E. I., but 

 was joined by others from Kan tucket and Martha's 

 Vineyard. Thomas Jenkins, to whom more than any 

 other individual it owed its success, although a native 

 of Nantucket, was at the time a resident of the city 

 of Providence, and a wealthy merchant. In the spring 

 of 1783 he formed an association, to consist of not 

 more than thirty members, all of whom should be mer- 

 chants or concerned in navigating the deep." 



It seems that in July, 1783, Cotton Gelston of Prov- 

 idence came here to secure accessions to this associa- 

 tion for the purpose of purchasing a suitable place for 

 a town, somewhere on the Hudson, and the following 

 persons joined it : Stephen Paddock, Joseph Barnard, 

 Charles Jenkins, Deborah Jenkins, Gideon Gardner, 

 Eeuben Folger, Alexander Coffin,* Benjamin Hussey, 

 Shubael Worth, Paul Hussey, Benjamin Folger, Reu- 

 ben Macy, Walter Folger, Benjamin Starbuck, and 

 John Cart wright. The above named, with others from 

 Martha's Vineyard, Newport, and Providence, R. I., 

 proceeded to New York and finally purchased of Peter 

 Hogeboom, Jr., and others, what was then "Claverack f 

 Landing " ; but on Nov. 14, 1784, it was, according to 

 the records, " unanimously agreed by the proprietors 

 that in fitter it should be called by the name of Hud- 



* Alex. Coffin was born in Nantucket, 1740, and died at Hud- 

 son in 1839, aged ninety-nine years. He was postmaster, cham- 

 berlain, and mayor of the city. 



t Claverack, Dutch Klauffer-acht, meaning eight hills or 

 cliffs. 



